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Matchday Two
Three Teams Advance To Quarter-Finals
by Jeremy Ruane
Three teams - Brazil, Canada and reigning Olympic Women's Football Tournament champions the USA - progressed to the last eight at Rio 2016 after some thrilling and dramatic encounters on Matchday Two of the competition.
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GROUP E
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GROUP F
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GROUP G
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Brazil continue to make every post a winning one at their home Games, and the 43,384 fans who piled into the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Stadium were thrilled by what their heroines produced, as they took Sweden to the cleaners, 5-1.
Two goals in four minutes half-way through the first half from Beatriz - a poacher's strike - and Cristiane - a record fourteenth in Olympics football - set up "La Canarinha" for a sizable victory, with Marta's penalty on the stroke of half-time settling the contest.
The second spell lacked the ferocity of the first, but three goals in the last ten minutes roused the gathered throngs once more. Marta capped off a lovely piece of skill in the desired manner ten minutes from time, before Beatriz curled home a beauty six minutes later.
A last-minute consolation strike from Lotta Schelin afforded Sweden a modicum of respectability on the scoreboard, but they were a distant third in a two-horse race in this encounter, which has left their quarter-final hopes dangling by the proverbial thread.
China, meanwhile, eclipsed South Africa 2-0 in the earlier game at the same venue, with the 25,000 present seeing "Banyana Banyana" go desperately close to opening the scoring when captain Janine Van Wyk hit the crossbar.
The South Africans had the better of the first half, but China went to the dressing rooms a goal to the good thanks to Gu Yasha's effort in stoppage time. The "Steel Roses" upped the tempo in the second spell, and were rewarded three minutes from time via an audacious 45-yarder from Tan Ruyin, whose effort found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Brazil's win secured their spot in the quarter-finals, and they'll be looking to make a clean sweep when taking on South Africa at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus from 1pm on Wednesday, NZ time.
Simultaneously, at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, a venue named in honour of the all-time-great Brazilian winger, China and Sweden go head to head with the advantage of knowing what each has to do to secure a quarter-finals berth, as the other groups play earlier. A draw may suit both teams - one hopes this isn't the case!
Details:
Brazil 5 (Beatriz (21, 86), Cristiane (24), Marta (44 pen, 80)), Sweden 1 (L. Schelin (89)) HT 3-0
China 2 (G. Yasha (45), T. Ruyin (87)), South Africa 0 HT 1-0
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Sao Paulo's Corinthinans Arena was again the centre of attention for the action in this group, which saw Canada clinch their place in the last eight after downing Zimbabwe 3-1, thanks in large part to a strong first half showing in front of 30,295 fans.
The Canadians got off to another firecracker start, with Janine Beckie pouncing in the seventh minute before Christine Sinclair tucked home a penalty twelve minutes later to leave John Herdman's team in full control.
Beckie bagged her second of the day - and third of the tournament - ten minutes before half-time, but whatever was in the half-time tea clearly wasn't fit for human consumption, because they weren't at the races in the second spell.
Zimbabwe were, however, and the crowd urged them on to score a goal, a feat the African nation fulfilled four minutes from time to the undisguised delight of the masses, most particularly the markswoman, Mavis Chirandu.
Four goals were witnessed in the second spell by an even bigger crowd, but the 37,475 fans present were more than a little surprised that second-ranked Germany had to come from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Australia, who fought for their Olympic lives like women possessed in a ding-dong go.
Sam Kerr gave "The Matildas" the ideal start with a sixth minute goal, a strike which initially rocked the Germans. But Silvia Neid's team were soon on the hunt for an equaliser, only for Lydia Williams to prove equal to everything thrown at her.
When Caitlin Foord doubled Australia's lead in the shadows of the half-time whistle, the first shock result of the tournament was on the cards, given Germany had only lost one encounter in group play in the five previous versions of the Olympic Women's Football Tournament.
They struck back straight away, however, Sara Daebritz affording them a lifeline right on half-time which set up an enthralling second half. Australia had the better of it, and only fine goalkeeping by Almuth Schult kept them in the contest - one particular save, from a Michelle Heyman strike, was right out of the top drawer.
Just when it looked as if Australia would hold on for a famous victory, the old adage "Never write off the Germans" proved true once more, Saskia Bartusiak prodding home the leveller two minutes from time to leave her team on the verge of qualifying for the last eight.
Australia will need to beat Zimbabwe in Salvador from 7am on Wednesday, NZ time, to ensure their passage to the quarter-finals, while at the same time top spot in the group will be at stake in Brasilia, where Canada and Germany collide.
Details:
Canada 3 (J. Beckie (7, 35), C. Sinclair (19 pen)), Zimbabwe 1 (M. Chirandu (86)) HT 3-0
Germany 2 (S. Daebritz (45), S. Bartusiak (88)), Australia 2 (S. Kerr (6), C. Foord (44)) HT 1-2
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I don't know what it is about Carli Lloyd and the Olympic Women's Football Tournament, but I love it!
Team USA's captain scored the gold-medal winning goal in both the 2008 and 2012 Finals, and she scored another in a game worthy of such a stage as she led her team to a 1-0 win over France at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Just 11,782 fans turned up for this drawcard clash between the first- and third-ranked sides in the world, and they weren't disappointed by an enthralling encounter which French captain Wendie Renard go close first, her header hitting the crossbar on the quarter hour.
Hope Solo tipped the rebound over the bar, and produced fine saves either side of half-time to deny Marie Laure Delie on the occasion of the 'keeper's 200th appearance for her country.
Solo's opposite number, Sarah Bouhhadi, also had to be on her toes, with a sharp save to keep out a Tobin Heath free-kick just shy of the half-hour mark the pick of her denials.
Heath, however, would not be denied. She is having a terrific Olympics so far, and crowned her display in this match with a 63rd minute missile which cannoned off the post, right into the path of the incoming figure of Lloyd - 1-0 USA, and that's how it finished.
1-0 was also the outcome in the later encounter, but the 8,505 who stayed on to watch the Football Ferns defeat Colombia also witnessed one of the worst moments of injustice you will see on a football field.
Three minutes from time, with the South Americans chasing an equaliser, substitute Tatiana Ariza briefly tangled with New Zealand captain Abby Erceg just outside the penalty area and went to ground rather too easily for the liking of many observers.
What happened next defied logic, with Zambian referee Gladys Lengwe, seemingly after consulting with her assistant, pulling out the red card to the disbelief of Erceg and all her team-mates - what should have been simulation by the attacker became denial of a goalscoring opportunity by the defender, and as Erceg had just Erin Nayler behind her …
The Football Ferns' custodian produced a stunning save to keep out Catalina Usme's resulting free-kick, the Colombian having seen a similar set-piece attempt strike the crossbar on the hour mark as they went about trying to level the scores.
For they found themselves trailing to a clinical Amber Hearn strike in the 31st minute, the striker's cool finish capping off the best move of the match thus far, and prompting more from the Kiwis, with Annalie Longo and Hearn both bringing the best out of Colombian goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda before the half-time whistle.
Immediately after it, Hearn produced a stunning twenty-five yard dipping volley which deserved better fate than to see Sepulveda tip it onto the bar. Other attempts by substitute Rosie White and Ali Riley - a goal from the fullback would be a real collector's item - kept Sepulveda busy as the Football Ferns recorded a victory which leaves them requiring at least a point from their final group game to progress.
That game, however, is against France, whom they trail on goal difference at present, at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador from 10am Wednesday, NZ time. Simultaneously, the USA should prove too strong for Colombia at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus.
Details:
Football Ferns 1 (A. Hearn (31)), Colombia 0 HT 1-0
USA 1 (C. Lloyd (63)), France 0 HT 0-0
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